Set shoe seal and setting tool



Aug. 18, 1936.

J. H. HOWARD SET SHOE SEAL AND SETTING TOOL Filed Oct. 5, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet l V AQMM md lf w swam M JAMEs H. \'\0WARD Aug. 18, '1936. HOWARD 2.051.713

SET SH SEAL AND SETTING TOOL Filed Oct. 5, 1954 s Sheets-Sheei 2 Aug. 18, 1936. J. H. HOWARD SET SHOE SEAL AND SETTING TOOL 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 5, 1934 SEW H. owmo we'w (o v 8 mm T v w 4 A z a M a /7 /r J h q\ n r mv U \E Mfl/ /4 7 4 6 IO Z n M 0 mm 2 m m LL 9 Patented Aug. 18, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,051,713 SET SHOE SEAL AND SETTING TOOL James E. Howard, Houston, Tex.,

J. H. McEvoy & Company,

corporation assignor to Houston, Tex., .a

The invention relates to set shoes for use on the lower end of pipe to be introduced into a well, and more particularly to set shoes having valves therein adapted to close the pipe against the entrance of fluids from the lower end thereof.

In lowering a screen or liner in a well preparatory to setting it, a set shoe is ordinarily used on the bottom of the screen or liner to guide the assembly into place, and such set shoes are generally provided with a check valve which permits fluid to be discharged from the liner but prevents the entrance of fluid into the liner.

Wells are washed clean by pumping a suitable fluid out through the check valve in the set shoe, and after the well has been washed it is essential that this valve eiiect a seal against the entrance of fluid into the liner past the valve so that the flow will be cut ofi except through the screen or perforated portion of the liner.

Single valves as are now employed frequently fail to seat or hold properly with the result that fluid enters therethrough, and a positive and dependable closure is not obtained.

It is an object of the invention to provide a set shoe which may be employed principally in setting screen, but which may also be employed on liners, packers, or sections of pipe when desired.

It is another object of the invention to provide aset shoe having, in addition to a check valve, a positive valve adapted to be permanently closed after the well is washed and the screen or liner is set.

Another object is to prdvide a set shoe having a releasable fluid connection thereabove, and a valve adapted to be permanently closed and adapted to be sealed by the action of fluid tending to leak past the check valve in the set shoe.

Another object of the invention is to provide a set shoe adapted to prevent the entrance of fluid at the lower end of a screen or liner, having a plurality of seals or closures in series, so that failure of any one will not destroy the eflicacy of the tool..

, A still further object is to provide a set shoe which may be permanently closed against the flow of fluid after the shoe and liner or screen have been lowered into position in a well.

It is an object of the invention to provide a set shoe which may be sealed against the ingress of fluid at separate points.

It also is an object of the invention to provide a combination of a packer, liner, setting string,

wash pipe and set shoe.

It is another object to provide a tool which may be used to lower the liner, set the packer, wash the well, permanently close the set shoe and be released from the liner and withdrawn.

These and other objects will be apparent when the following description is considered with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partially in section, showing a set shoe embodying the invention as it is being lowered in a well.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the shoe in its set position with the wash or operating pipe released.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the plane 3-3 of Fig. 2 and in the direction indicated. r

Fig. 4 is a view of a portion of the valve actuating stem..

Fig. 5 is the same view as shown in Fig. 1 but showing another form of release.

Fig. 6 shows the Fig. 5 form 01' the invention in its set position with the wash pipe and setting string released.

Figs. 7 and 8 are transverse sectional views taken on Fig. 6 on the planes 'I-'| and B--8, respectively, and in the directions indicated.

Fig. 9 is a partially sectional view of a packer and setting tool as they are lowered into a well.

Fig. 10 shows a view of the lower end of the assembly of Fig. 9 including a set shoe embodying features of this invention.

Fig. 11 is a view, partially in section, of the packer set in the casing and the upper end of the set shoe after the setting string has been withdrawn.

In Fig. 1 a set shoe is indicated generally at 2 and is threaded at 3 to receive a liner or screen 4. A hollow valve body 6 of such size to enter freely into the liner 4 is threadedly attached to the set shoe at l and provides an annular space inside the screen permitting the entrance of fluid through the screen at a point near the set shoe without obstruction from the valve body 6.

Within the lower end of the valve body 6 is a downwardly opening .check valve 8 which seats in a cage ll screwed in o the valve body 6. The

- valve 8 is held yieldably closed by a spring I2.

This valve is of usual construction and is adapted to permit the discharge of fluid ut the opening i3 in the bottom of the set shoe, and to prevent any flow of fluid in the opposite direction.

The upper portion of the bore of the valve body t is reduced internally as at M and is adapted to receive the sleeve or slide valve l6 slidable axially therein.

Within the reduced bore I 4 of the valve body 6 is an annular packing groove ll into which suitable packing material I8 is fitted. A second annular groove 2| in the bore above said packing is tapered downwardly and inwardly. Slip segments 8 22 are positioned within the annular groove 2|, 6 and are adapted to engage the sleeve valve l6 and secure it against downward movement. An inclined shoulder 23 is formed in the valve body 6 immediately below the reduced portion l4.

The top end of the valve body 6 terminates 10 in a plurality of upstanding lugs 24 which form a part of a dental clutch device.

The sleeve valve |6 is of generally cylindrical form and has a reduced threaded portion 26 on its lower end. A shoulder 21 is formed at the upper 15 end of said reduced portion. A cup packing element 28 is adapted to pass over the threaded portion 26 and seat on the shoulder 21, and is clamped in place by a threaded follower 3|. The packing 21 is of substantially the same outside diameter as the body of the slide valve |6.

It will be noted that the follower 3| is of greater outside diameter than the sleeve valve |6 and'is provided with an inclined upper shoulder 32 which is adapted to engage the downwardly inclined shoulder 23 on the valve body to form a valve. It is contemplated that these two surfaces will be ground so as to form a seal when in contact.

The sleeve valve I6 is tubular and has fluid passage 33 axially thereof which communicates through a plurality of ports 34 with the enlarged portion 36 of the valve body 6.

As shown in Fig. l the ports 34 are formed in sleeve |6 adjacent the lower end of passage 33, when the valve I6 is in its lower position, and it will be seen that a limited upward movement of the sleeve valve l6 will move said ports 34 above the shoulder 23 and close the same. The lower end of the sleeve valve member is recessed to 40 avoid contact with the stem of the valve 8.

The upper end of the valve I6 is formed into a head having an enlarged portion or collar 31,

- whose lower end forms a shoulder 38, as best seen in Figs 2 and 4. Notches 4| formed in the collar 31 are adapted to engage the upstanding lugs 24 as shown in Fig. 1, thus forming the mating member of the clutch, previously noted.

A tapered surface or seat 42 is formed on the top end of the collar 31. A cylindrical portion 43 of the Slide valve |6 above the collar 31 ter minates in the upwardly and inwardly tapered area 44. A plurality of radial lugs 46 are formed around the circumference of the cylindrical portion or extension 43, and these lugs have their upper surfaces inclined on the angle of the taper of the area 44.

With the sleeve valve l6 and the valve body 6 in the relative positions shown in Fig. 1 fluid may 60 flow down through the passage 33 and out the ports 34 into the enlarged portion 36 of the valve body. From here it may continue out through the check valve 8 and opening |3.

A wash pipe 41 is provided which is understood 55 as having connection with a setting string extending upwardly to the surface in the usual manner. It has a special lower connection or sub 48 threadedly attached to its lower end. The

sub 48 has a plurality of centering ribs 5| around 7 its outer surface as seen in Fig. 3. Downwardly flaring seats 52 and 53 in the sub 48 are adapted to mate with the tapered surfaces 42 and 44 respectively of the valve sleeve so that when the sub 48 is held against the slide valve |6 the mat- 75 ing seats will form a substantially fluid tight seal connecting the wash pipe 41 with the interior 33 of the slide valve.

Axial grooves 54 connecting seats 52 and 53 in the sub 48 are adapted to receive the lugs 46 on the end 43 of the sleeve. Interior sockets 56 seen in Fig. 3, communicate circumferentially with the slots 54, and provide a bayonet slot connection into which the lugs 46 may be moved by relative rotation of the parts thus engaging the sleeve valve and sub against axial separation ex- 0 cept by a rotation in the opposite direction or shearing ofi of the lugs 46.

It is contemplated that these lugs 46 will be sheared off in order to disengage the wash pipe from the set shoe after the washing operation has been completed and it is desired to remove the wash pipe. The lugs 46 are therefore made of such size as to be shearedofi under a nominal strain without damage to other parts.

When the washing through the valve 8 has been completed and it is desired to seal the set shoe permanently, the wash pipe 41 is pulled up, raising the sleeve valve to the position shown in Fig. 2 and a suflicient strain is applied to shear off the lugs 46. The sheared base of a lug is indicated at 51 in Fig. 2.

.When the valve I6 is raised the ports 34 are covered, the cup packing 28 is carried into the lower end of the bore l4, and the faces 23 and 32 are brought together, thus forming a closed valve. Thus, in addition to the seal of the check valve 8, a seal is secured by the packing l8, the cup packing 28, and the ground joint between the faces 23 and 32, providing a total of four separate sealing points in series.

The sleeve valve |6is retained in its upward position by the slip segments 22 which engage its outer surface.

In a modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6 a slightly different form of sleeve valve is indicated at 6|. Lugs 62, as seen in Fig.

8, are formed on the surface of the sleeve valve and are adapted to engage the upstanding lugs 24 on the valve body 6 to prevent relative rotation. It will be noted that the lugs 62 are of such length as to extend above the lugs 24. Above the lugs 62 is the cylindrical section 63. A coupling 64 has an interior bored portion 66 at its lower end adapted to telescope over the cylindrical section 63, and a threaded pin 61 is employed to lock the two telescoped parts together. Recesses 68 in the lower end of the coupling 64 engage the lugs 62.

The coupling 64 has a threaded box 1| therein. A sub 13, which is connected to the lower 5 end of the wash pipe 41, has a pin 12 adapted to mate with the box 1|.

When the wash pipe is to be attached to the set shoe preparatory to washing the well the parts are positioned as in Fig. 5; The sleeve 0 valve 6| is in its downward position with its fluid ports open. The sub 12 is screwed into the coupling 64 which is held against rotation by the lugs 62 and lugs 24.

When the washing is completed the wash pipe 5 may be raised to close the slide valve 6|, and further raising will shear off the pin 61 and disengage the coupling.

Should occasion subsequently arise requiring the opening of the valve 6| it is contemplated 7 that a string of pipe may be set on the upper end thereof forcing the valve and slips downward. The slip segments will encounter the shoulder 14 of the slot 2| which will limit the extent of their inward movement. While this r seals therebetween.

compression the barrel sleeve 8| is 16 and compress t will be seen that a rlghthand rotation of the setting string, coupling and mandrel will release the mandrel from the barrel 16 by disengaging the threaded rings 8'! ing the pin 9|.

The wash pipe mandrel 86, and

and 88 and shearthrough the the mandrel end of the The coupling 97 is adapted to engage the top hedownward engages the compression sleeve 8| the packing 82 as seen in Fig. 11.

- valve body when said valve member, and a plurality of seal! adapted to seal between said valve ports are closed. 2. In combination,

valve member in said valve body, a combined said valve may be raised and closed, said connecsetting tool and wash pipe, means thereon ention being adapted to be released by 'a iurther gaging said valve and adapted by an upward upward pull thereon after said valve is closed. movement thereon to close said valve, and means 9. In a device of the character described," a to latch said valve in closed position. liner, a set shoe thereon, a tubular valve body 5 8. In combination, a line a set shoe at the in said liner, a valve sleeve movable longitudilower end thereof, a packer adjacent the upper nally therein to open or closed position, means end thereof, a valve body connected with said between said valve and said body to form a seal set shoe, a valve member longitudinally slidable therewith, said sleeve having openings therein therein, means to limit the movement of said adapted to be closed by the movement of said 10 valve member in said valve body, a combined valve to closed position, and means to hold said setting tool and wash pipe, and a connection valve from opening thereafter. JAMES between said wash pipe and said valve whereby H. HOWARD. 

